Lock for doors or gates



June 17, 1941. A. H. FLETCHER 2,245,855

' LQCK FOR DOORS 0R GATES Filed Feb. 24, 1940 Patented June 17, 1941 1Claim.

This invention relates to a lock for a door or gate, and it is an objectof the invention to provide a device of this kind which may be readilyand conveniently unlatched at the outer side of the door or gate andwhich can also be effectively held in locking arrangement againstunauthorized opening of the door or latch.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of this kindwherein the latch or catch is arranged at the upper portion of the doorwhereby the mechanism is particularly adapted for use in connection witha door or gate of an overhead type.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved lockwhereby certain important advantages are attained and the devicerendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient andadvantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing,wherein- Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational view and of somewhat adiagrammatic character illustrating a garage door having a lockassociated therewith constructed in accordance with an embodiment of myinvention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional View taken through the deviceas illustrated in Figure 1 with certain of the parts in elevation, saidfigure being also of a diagrammatic character particularly as pertainsto the mounting of the door;

Figure 3 is a view in rear elevation of the latch as herein disclosedunapplied, the associated chain being shown in fragment;

Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line 44of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a detailed sectional View taken substantially on the line5-5 of Figure 2.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing, W denotes a doorway of desireddimensions and with which is associated a door D. This door D, as hereindisclosed, is of an overhead type but as the mounting of the door Dforms no part of the present invention it is not believed that adetailed illustration and description thereof is necessary.

The top edge of the door D, which is spaced a predetermined distancebelow the crown member I of the doorway W, has secured thereto a channelmember 2 of desired dimensions and which channel member is held inapplied position by the screws 3 or otherwise as may be preferred.

i As is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, this member 2is disposed transversely across the top edge of the door D and extendingbetween the outer end portions of the flanges 4 of the channel member 3is the lower end portion of an upwardly and rearw-ardly di rected latchplate 5. This plate 5 has its marginal portion defined by the dependingflanges 6 and through the lower portions of these flanges 6 and theouter end portions of the flanges 4 is directed a pintle 1 whereby thelatch member 5 is sup-ported for swinging movement. This latch member 5is constantly urged upwardly by a spring member M substantially in theform of an inverted U and bearing from below against the latch member 5.The side arms 8 of the spring member M are coiled, as at 9, about thepintle I and each of said arms is continued by an extension arm Illwhich contacts from above with the channel member 3 between the flanges4 thereof.

The upper end portions of the flanges 5 are inwardly beveled, as at H,so that the latch member 5 will have efiective engagement with theflange I2 depending from the keeper plate It secured to the undersurface of the crown member I by the screws I5 or otherwise as may bepreferred. The upper or free end portions of the flanges B haveinterposed therebetween and supported thereby the cross bar I6 to whichis secured an end portion of a flexible member I? herein disclosed as achain. This member or chain I1 is of such length as required and extendsdown and is secured, as at I8, to the end portion of an elongated handlemember or rock arm I9. This member I9 is directed through a suitablypositioned slot 20 in the door D and also through an opening 2| in thebase bar 22 of a substantially D-shaped frame F. This frame F is ofdesired dimensions and is preferably of cast metal. The base member 22has extended lugs 23 with which coact holding bolts 24 or the like formaintaining the frame F in applied position.

The outer bar 25 of the frame F in its intermediate portion is providedtherealong with a slot 26 through which the outer end of the member I9is also disposed. This outer end portion of the member I9 is providedwith an opening 21 which, when the latch 5 is in operative engagementwith the flange I2 of the keeper l4 registers with the recesses 28 inthe outer bar 25 of the frame F and at opposite sides of the slot 26.With the shackle of a hasp lock or the like inserted through the opening21 and extending within the recesses 28, the handle member I9 isefiectively held against swinging movement and thus preventingunauthorized pull on the latch 5 to free the same from the keeper I4.

When it is desired to open the door D from without and with the hasp orkindred member removed, the outer end of the handle member I9 is swungupwardly. This will result in downward movement of the latch 5 releasingthe same from the keeper Hi. When it is desired to re lease the latch 5from the inside of the door D, it is only necessary that pull be imposedupon the member or chain l1. It is also to be noted that the member orchain I! is substantially taut so that when the latch member 5 is inengagement with the keeper M, the handle member IE! will be in suchposition as to cause the opening 21 thereof to register with therecesses 28.

While in the present embodiment of the invention I show my improved lockmechanism working at the upper portion of a door, it is believed to bereadily understood that it can be employed to the same advantage at thebottom of the door or with the side margins thereof. This changing ofthe location of the lock mechanism in no way requires any differentarrangement of parts from what has already been described.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the rock arm is passesbetween the spaced ears 29 at opposite sides of the opening 21 andextending within the slot 20. Disposed through these ears 29 and theadjacent portion of the rock arm I9 isa pin 39 whereby the arm 19 issupported for desired rocking or swinging movement.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a lockconstructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adaptedfor use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may beassembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention issusceptible of some change and modification without departing from theprinciples and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to beunderstood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formationof the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention inpractice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

A latch structure comprising a frame, means for securing the frame to asupporting member,

a latch member, means for mounting the latch member upon said supportingmember, said frame including a bar spaced from the supporting memberwhen the frame is applied thereto, said bar being provided therealongwith a slot, a rock arm carried by the frame, one end portion of therock arm extending through the slot in the bar of the frame, thesupportin member having an opening through which said rock arm passes tothe opposite side of the supporting member, said bar of the frame atopposite sides of the slot therein being provided with recesses, theportion of the rock arm extending through said slot having an opening toalign with said recesses to permit the passage through the recesses andthe opening of a holding member, and means for connecting the endportion of the rock arm at the side of the supporting member remote fromthe frame to the latch member, said frame being substantially D-shapedin form and having a second bar for contact with the supporting member,said second bar having an opening through which the rock arm isdirected.

ALLEN H. FLETCHER.

